This book made me laugh out loud so many times! Gilda is so funny! Foggy San Francisco is a great setting for a ghost story. I especially enjoyed GildThis book made me laugh out loud so many times! Gilda is so funny! Foggy San Francisco is a great setting for a ghost story. I especially enjoyed Gilda's realization at the end of the book regarding her brother Stephen: "Whatever happens, Stephen and I will have to deal with it together," I love finding textual support for my theory: "Thomsen shouldn't be an only child, Errol."...more

So sad I'm done with the trilogy; these books are so good. I'm already looking forward to rereading them someday. Hornets' Nest seemed to have less ofSo sad I'm done with the trilogy; these books are so good. I'm already looking forward to rereading them someday. Hornets' Nest seemed to have less of a Blomkivist focus, and that was nice. The crush that I had on him during Dragon Tattoo was definitely over by the time I finished Hornets' Nest. I would choose his sister over him any day. I enjoyed how she plays more of a role in this book, and I also liked Berger's story line. Not the biggest fan of Blomkivist's new girlfriend--who "pumps iron" for hours each day? Maybe my problem with her was just a translation issue of her exercise routine. Lisbeth was amazing as always... Have I mentioned how sad I am that there aren't more books in this series? ...more

I read Gilda Joyce a little each night because I want her around as long as possible. She is just hilarious. For example, to be annoyingly clueless abI read Gilda Joyce a little each night because I want her around as long as possible. She is just hilarious. For example, to be annoyingly clueless about football, she asks her mother's boyfriend if the men in black and white stripes are someone's dad. So funny. This book is spooky too. I was very interested to find out what really happened to Dolores Lambert. ...more

I got this book at Strand on a day trip into the city. My baby fell asleep on the train home, and Kristin Kimball made the travel time fly. I just lovI got this book at Strand on a day trip into the city. My baby fell asleep on the train home, and Kristin Kimball made the travel time fly. I just love this book. Her farming stories remind me of my dad and grandparents and make me admire them even more. Barbara Kingsolver convinced me that eating local was good, but Mark Kimball made me fall in love with local....more

It was great to spend an evening with Enola again. I can't get over how brave she is! She ventures out alone into the dark streets of the East End allIt was great to spend an evening with Enola again. I can't get over how brave she is! She ventures out alone into the dark streets of the East End all the time. She is 14. When I was alone in Europe at 19, I never went out at night. Enola is very inspirational, and I love the interactions with her brother--especially when she outsmarts him....more

Twig was so fun. It will be a great book to read to Thomsen when he is a little older. The books takes you into the imagination of a little girl livinTwig was so fun. It will be a great book to read to Thomsen when he is a little older. The books takes you into the imagination of a little girl living in a fourth floor apartment that disappears for hours making her own fun in the grassless backyard of the apartment complex. I can't quite figure out when the story takes place because Twig's father is a taxi driver, but an ice wagon horse is a primary figure in Twig's world. No matter when it was, I loved it. I love how children used to have to make their own fun with talking birds, elves, and fairies--a little different than sitting in front of a screen for hours on end....more

Loved this one too! I couldn't put it down yesterday. It wasn't as scary as Dragon, but it was still very thrilling. I did miss the interaction betweeLoved this one too! I couldn't put it down yesterday. It wasn't as scary as Dragon, but it was still very thrilling. I did miss the interaction between Erika Berger and Mikael as a couple and Hedestad as a setting, and I think I preferred Girl with the Dragon Tattoo overall. Although, Dragon reminds me of my happy last days in Lincoln, and those memories may be clouding my judgment....more

Kate gave me this book from the Kearney Library mostly because the main character's name is Garnet, and Garnet currently happens to be my favorite girKate gave me this book from the Kearney Library mostly because the main character's name is Garnet, and Garnet currently happens to be my favorite girl name. I've been reading Thimble Summer on the bus the last week, and it has been wonderful. Enright's descriptions of rural Wisconsin are fantastic. They made me want to go out and pet a pig and take a trip to a county fair. I especially enjoyed Garnet's hitchhiking adventure and the addition of Eric to the Linden family. The drawings were excellent as well....more

I loved this book, and I'm so glad it's a series. Enola is fantastic and someone I would have felt a strong connection to 15 years ago. It's too bad EI loved this book, and I'm so glad it's a series. Enola is fantastic and someone I would have felt a strong connection to 15 years ago. It's too bad Enola didn't exist 15 years ago. To me, the book was a mix between The Secret Garden and the Sally Lockhart stories. I could see London so clearly and feel the cobblestone beneath me as I read Enola's accounts. I also adored how she loved riding her bicycle. Can't wait to read more!...more

I was so enthralled with this adventure of Enola's that I read the whole book in one sitting. It was great. I felt like the 1880s London setting cameI was so enthralled with this adventure of Enola's that I read the whole book in one sitting. It was great. I felt like the 1880s London setting came out more in The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets than the previous two Enola books. The gruesome details of rats eating off the face of a baby in the slums and all the talk of the need for flowers to cover the stench of London made it hard to romanticize the setting. ...more

This is a wee little book. I read yesterday on the bus to back to New York, and it probably only took 30 minutes to read cover to cover. It is lovelyThis is a wee little book. I read yesterday on the bus to back to New York, and it probably only took 30 minutes to read cover to cover. It is lovely though. A tiny book about a tiny fairy and her adventures in a giantess's garden....more

The Major and Mrs. Ali are too cute! I really enjoyed this love story and the setting. It made me want to be old and fall in love over tea, books, andThe Major and Mrs. Ali are too cute! I really enjoyed this love story and the setting. It made me want to be old and fall in love over tea, books, and outings to the seaside. Roger, the Major's son, does not deserve to be part of this wonderful family. It only proves that a upstanding, polite man like the Major can indeed raise a rude, consumerist son. ...more

How I love Ernest. How I love Victoria. How I love all 13 of Victoria's brothers. This French story is packed with fantastic characters. I'm definitelHow I love Ernest. How I love Victoria. How I love all 13 of Victoria's brothers. This French story is packed with fantastic characters. I'm definitely going to recommend this book as a read-aloud for my mom's fifth grade classroom. I think both male and female ten-year-olds will love it. ...more

I really, really liked this one. I grabbed it off the shelf at Bennett Martin on a whim yesterday, and I literally couldn't put it down. I've had a faI really, really liked this one. I grabbed it off the shelf at Bennett Martin on a whim yesterday, and I literally couldn't put it down. I've had a fascination with pioneer women for as long as I can remember, and this book definitely fed that fascination. It told the story of the Nebraska prairie through five generations of women through letters, journals, and plain, old oral history. At the the conclusion of each woman's story, I wanted more--especially the first, Abigail, who lived near the meadow in the 1860s. I also enjoyed the women's names: Abigail, Rebecca, Anna, Sarah, and Hope....more

I love the '40s and the chain-smoking, sassy women that come with it. Frankie Bard is pretty amazing, and I couldn't get enough of her chapters. She'sI love the '40s and the chain-smoking, sassy women that come with it. Frankie Bard is pretty amazing, and I couldn't get enough of her chapters. She's a war reporter for CBS radio, and she covers the nightly bombings in London and later follows displaced Jews trying to escape their sad fates. Parts are extremely sad. Nothing can make this mama cry harder than vivid descriptions of mothers being separated from children by death and other means.

I didn't enjoy the Franklin, Mass. stories as much but found them interesting. I am still amazed that stamps only cost 3¢ 60 sixty years ago....more

Maybe I should just pack up and move to Sweden. I love Stieg Larsson, and so far, I love Annika Thor. I am absolutely thrilled that this book is the fMaybe I should just pack up and move to Sweden. I love Stieg Larsson, and so far, I love Annika Thor. I am absolutely thrilled that this book is the first of a four-book series. I can't wait to read more about Stephie and Nellie. I cried a lot during this story. I knew what I was getting into however. The set up of two Jewish girls moving from Vienna to Sweden in 1939 away from their parents isn't the most cherry of beginnings. Stephie's life is just so hard, and my heart aches for her. The ending was pleasant, and I look forward to book #2....more

I've never fully understood segregation. Growing up, my mother taught To Kill A Mockingbird. I remember how she divided her class into two groups: redI've never fully understood segregation. Growing up, my mother taught To Kill A Mockingbird. I remember how she divided her class into two groups: red and blue people. She went around the school labelling drinking fountains, bathrooms, lunch tables, etc. as either red or blue only. Obviously, she was giving her eighth graders a lesson is segregation. However, as a little girl, I thought the idea of separate but equal sounded like fun. Um, I was wrong.

Luckily, I can confidently say that I realized how evil segregation was long before I read The Help this week, but I don't think I had ever seen the evils so clearly. This book is amazing. I loved Aibileen, Minny, Skeeter, May Mobely. Their stories are both horrific and hilarious. I was sad to see this book end. I feel like I connected with the characters even more because I read most of this book while I was visiting my sister in North Carolina. When I was shopping and a black woman was my cashier, I couldn't help but wonder if her mother or grandmother wore a white uniform everyday and raised white babies. You never know, but it is pretty amazing that fewer than 40 years ago, blacks and whites couldn't shop at the same store and now I don't think anything of it when the cashier's and my fingers brush when she hands me my receipt.

As much as I love living in 2009, Ruby made me long for the 1940s. Talk of her saddle shoes, pin curls, and victory red lipstick made me want to go ouAs much as I love living in 2009, Ruby made me long for the 1940s. Talk of her saddle shoes, pin curls, and victory red lipstick made me want to go out and buy a vintage dress and hoof it. Thanks for the great recommendation, Kate! ...more

I sure love Callie Vee. I love her relationship with her granddaddy and her river. Her six brothers are great characters--especially Travis and JB; II sure love Callie Vee. I love her relationship with her granddaddy and her river. Her six brothers are great characters--especially Travis and JB; I love a little boy that loves his kitties and turkeys. I also enjoyed Calpurnia's tonic-loving mother. This would make a great gift for a girl that loves science and the natural world or for a mama that dreams of having a little girl that loves science and the natural world....more

I read Thimble Summer last summer, and The Sea Is All Around was a great winter counterpart. Mab is a wonderful heroine, and I loved following her onI read Thimble Summer last summer, and The Sea Is All Around was a great winter counterpart. Mab is a wonderful heroine, and I loved following her on her adventures. Growing up, I always wished I lived near some water: a river, lake, ocean, something. It seems like water is often the catalyst to some amazing fun, and the setting of Pokenick Island was fantastic. Mab's friends, the Crokers: Candace, Channing, Casper, and Charles were particularly enjoyable. The descriptions of the Croker house reminded me a little of how the Thomsen house must have been like when Kate (the oldest) was 10. Aunt Belinda and Mr. Bates were also great characters....more

I cannot even begin to express how much I learned from Ms. Kingsolver. I have been a fan of Farmers' Markets and buying locally for awhile now, but thI cannot even begin to express how much I learned from Ms. Kingsolver. I have been a fan of Farmers' Markets and buying locally for awhile now, but this book has propelled my interest into something much more intentional. I have already begun researching where I can get local produce, milk, eggs, and diary once we move to Princeton and am really excited about it. Errol and I do a pretty good job of buying locally in Lincoln, but I think it would be harder to change habits entirely without changing your environment--Thomsen and I love our special trips to Hy-Vee! I am hoping that by avoiding big, shiny grocery stores all together in New Jersey, we'll be like the Kingsolver-Hopp clan and slowly forget what's so great about them anyway. I could definitely give up bananas. Errol is on board with this new plan and has also added Animal, Vegetable, Miracle into his queue of 'to be read' books. I wish this book could be in every American's 'to be read' queue.

I especially loved the daughters in this book, and I totally could have run an egg business just like Lily when I was her age. :)...more

I enjoyed Frankie but kept getting annoyed with her relationship with Matthew. I can't stand smart, capable female protagonists paired up with spineleI enjoyed Frankie but kept getting annoyed with her relationship with Matthew. I can't stand smart, capable female protagonists paired up with spineless weaklings. Matthew's only redeeming quality was his proficiency of the English language. That was hot. I also loved his Superman t-shirt. When I was 15, I would have loved to have a worn-out ringspun cotton shirt that wreaked of boy. This was a fun read, and it makes me happy I didn't go to a boarding school like Alabaster. ...more